Six-Run Fourth Sinks Wahoos in Loss to Smokies
August 22, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos continued their struggles against the Tennessee Smokies on Wednesday night, falling in a 10-6 final after two early leads slipped away.
The Blue Wahoos have now dropped 7 of 8 games this season to the defending league champions, and two in a row to begin their six-game road series.
With the loss, the Blue Wahoos again failed to put pressure on the first-place Biloxi Shuckers. The Blue Wahoos now trail the Shuckers by 1.5 games with 22 to play, pending the results of Biloxi’s game in Birmingham.
The Blue Wahoos briefly held a pair of early leads, taking a 2-1 edge on solo homers from Nathan Martorella and Johnny Olmstead in the second and a 3-2 lead on a Joe Mack RBI single in the third.
Olmstead’s homer was his first at the Double-A level, and began a 3-for-4 night. Mack’s RBI was his Southern League-leading 60th of the season.
Pensacola starter Luis Palacios (L, 8-6) was uncharacteristically shaky, tying a career high with 10 hits allowed and setting a new career high with four walks. The Smokies turned the game around with a six-run fourth, turning a 3-2 deficit into an 8-3 Tennessee lead. The Blue Wahoos left allowed eight runs, seven earned, over 3.1 innings.
The Smokies got their starter, Antonio Santos (W, 7-3), through 5.0 innings despite a high pitch count. The Blue Wahoos added on three runs against the Tennessee bullpen, getting RBI doubles from Jakob Marsee and Jared Serna in the sixth and a solo homer from Graham Pauley in the ninth, but it wasn’t enough to come back.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Smokies on Thursday. First pitch from Smokies Stadium is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CT, with a live audio broadcast beginning at 6:55 p.m. ET/5:55 p.m. CT.
Lindgren’s Strong Outing Sets Tone For Wahoos Win In Sunday Series Finale
August 19, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
Smiles returned. A game was sealed. The congratulatory, high-five line of players had some added energy.
The Blue Wahoos got a win they needed Sunday, a 4-1 victory against the Montgomery Biscuits to end a tough homestand at Blue Wahoos Stadium in a good way.
Starting pitcher Jeff Lindgren, who was the Blue Wahoos’ most reliable, durable starter in 2021 on his eventual rise to making a major league debut last season with the Miami Marlins, duplicated that kind of performance Sunday in five scoreless innings.
He allowed just two hits, two walks, six strikeouts and carried a 2-0 lead en route to his first win since July 10.
Behind him, a bullpen trio of Cade Gibson (2 innings), Tristan Stevens and Dale Stanavich, all delivered. They allowed just one hit combined, two walks and five strikeouts. It resembled the other win the Blue Wahoos got in this six-game series on Thursday in a 3-1 game.
As it turned out, the Blue Wahoos got the runs they needed in the third inning. Shane Sasaki led off with a double, the scored on Johnny Olmstead’s RBI single. Olmstead then advanced on a stolen base and wild pitch and scored on Jakob Marsee’s sacrifice fly.
Marsee then laid down a sacrifice bunt in the sixth inning, moving Harrison Spohn into scoring position. Jacob Berry’s two out single scored Spohn and completed a big week for Berry. He went 9-for-21 in six games this week, with two homers and six RBI.
Joe Mack’s double in the eighth inning scored Graham Pauley with the Blue Wahoos’ fourth run.
It’s been a tough season series for the Blue Wahoos against Montgomery (8-16) and they will lament two games this week with ninth inning leads that didn’t end with wins.
But they remain in the thick of a three-team race with Biloxi and the Mississippi Braves for the second playoff spot. The second half winner in the Southern League’s South Division qualifies, or the second-place finisher if Montgomery wins both halves.
The Blue Wahoos will now turn attention to their farthest road trip this season. They will leave on Monday for east Tennessee where they will face the Tennessee Smokies in a road series beginning Tuesday at Smokies Stadium.
This series will be the second-to-last week for the Smokies playing in this ballpark, which is located 22 miles east of Knoxville in Kodak. Next season, the Smokies will move into a 7,000-seat stadium located in downtown Knoxville, not far from the University of Tennessee campus.
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: Blue Wahoos vs. Tennessee Smokies
WHEN: Tuesday Thru Sunday (Aug. 25).
WHERE: Smokies Stadium, Kodak, Tennessee.
Blue Wahoos Fall On Taylor Swift Ticket Giveaway Night
August 18, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
Courtney Ray and Lexi Hooks became the happiest, luckiest people Saturday at Blue Wahoos Stadium, winners of the Taylor Swift concert tickets from Saturday’s promotion on “Low E.R.A.s Night.”
That kind of good fortune continued to elude the Blue Wahoos, after losing to the Montgomery Biscuits 5-4 in the fourth setback this week against the team Pensacola has struggled against all season.
The latest loss occurred despite a strong home debut for Blue Wahoos left-hander Robby Snelling, who tied a career-high with nine strikeouts in 4.1 innings pitched.
A capacity crowd of 5,038 waited through an hour and 15-minute delay before Saturday’s game began, then sat through a near 3-hour game, before the much-anticipated draw of the two winners for the Taylor Swift tour stop on October 25 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
“We had no clue it was an ERAs, Taylor Swift type game,” said Hooks, explaining they purchased tickets a couple months ago for Saturday’s game without realizing the seats had a special lure. “We had no clue, no idea until we got into the stadium.”
Hours later, they got the gift of a lifetime.
The couple, who recently moved to Pensacola from Montgomery, Alabama – as irony would have it — became stunned winners as Swift music fans to watch the world-renowned pop star perform.
“Total shock,” Ray said. “Shaking. Can’t believe it. We are not winners of things like this ever so to come to a game like and be surprised to win, it is very cool.”
The game itself began in the Blue Wahoos’ favor, just like two others this week. Jacob Berry continued his hot streak with a first-inning double that scored Graham Pauley with the first run.
The Blue Wahoos then took a 2-1 lead off Jared Serna’s homer, who is batting .394 since joining the Blue Wahoos on July 30.
Joe Mack then followed in the fourth inning with a homer, his team-leading 20th of the year, to make it 3-1
.
But as so often happened this week, the Biscuits quickly answered. They scored two runs in the fifth inning, taking advantage of walks, a single and outfielder error by Shane Sasaki.
They took a 5-3 lead in the sixth when Ricardo Genoves blasted a two-run homer off Blue Wahoos reliever Josh Simpson, who was set to begin this season with the Marlins before an injury setback.
The Blue Wahoos then loaded the bases with one out in the seventh but could only manage one run on Serna’s RBI ground out.
In the eighth, Mack was thrown out at the plate on a sensational throw by Biscuits right fielder Mason Auer on a two-out single from Sasaki.
In the ninth, the Blue Wahoos Paul McIntosh walked with one out, but was stranded there.
It’s been that kind of week, that kind of season-series for the Blue Wahoos (61-50, 23-20 in the second half), who are now 7-16 against the Biscuits (65-48, 25-19), the Tampa Bay Rays affiliate and winners of the Southern League first half South Division.
The series concludes on Sunday, which is highlighted by the appearance of beloved children’s character “Bluey,” which includes a pair of private meet-and-greet sessions before gates open at 3 p.m., then greeting fans at the ballpark after they enter.
GAME NOTABLES
— Also part of Saturday’s game, the second annual First City Bowl high school football game was announced on Oct. 25, featuring Pensacola High as the visiting team against West Florida High. PHS head coach Wade McKinney and West Florida’s Harry Lees participated in a “signing ceremony” before the bottom of the second inning in front of the home team dugout.
Tate Aggies Edge Pine Forest in Jamboree Showdown (With Photo Gallery)
August 17, 2024
The Tate Aggies kicked off 2024 with a hard-fought 10-7 victory over the Pine Forest Eagles in a Friday night jamboree at Pete Gindl Stadium.
Head Coach Brett Summerford credited the win to the team’s unwavering work ethic and preparation. “It’s just hard work. We keep grinding, that’s our mentality,” Summerford said.
For a photo gallery, click here. Look for cheerleader and fan photos in a gallery by Tuesday.
A short 3-yard touchdown run (pictured top) by senior Carson Secchari put the Aggies up 7-0 early in the half. Summerford praised the Eagles’ strong performance, emphasizing the importance of a quick start. “That’s a really good team,” he said. “We had to come out fast. I just told the guys to keep working.”
“That’s a really, really good team. We jumped out fast,” Summerford said of the Eagles. “That’s what you got to do. I just said keep working.”
The Aggies’ defense also played a crucial role in the victory, effectively containing the Pine Forest offense. However, Summerford cautioned against reading too much into the preseason matchup. “This doesn’t mean anything at the end of the of the night. We’re 0-0. They are 0-0. We just have to keep building and keep getting stronger. So that’s where we are going to go next week on Monday.”
Tate faces a challenging road schedule to start the regular season, with games at Fort Walton Beach, Gulf Breeze, and Pensacola High.
“We get to go on the road and got to fight,” Summerford said.
The Aggies’ home opener will be a homecoming matchup against Milton on September 13.
Friday night’s Jamboree was opened with freshman and junior varsity quarters.
Look for cheerleader and fan photos in a gallery by Tuesday.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Suffer Another HeartBreaking Loss In Ninth Inning
August 17, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
Closing out late-game leads has been the Blue Wahoos’ forte during this run of successful seasons.
Right now, it’s gone the other way.
The Blue Wahoos took a 3-0 lead into the seventh inning Friday, then were an out away from having a chance for a walk-off win in the ninth, but that quickly vanished with one swing and a 6-3 loss against the Montgomery Biscuits before a crowd of 3,528 at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The Biscuits’ cleanup hitter, Herberto Hernandez, pounced on a hanging curve ball from Blue Wahoos reliever Woo-Suk Go and blasted a 3-run homer into the water beyond left field. The no-doubter moonshot was the 14th homer for Hernandez this season, part of a slugging tandem with shortstop Carson Williams that has produced 29 homers.
This loss followed a blown 8-5 lead by the Blue Wahoos bullpen in the ninth inning on Wednesday. Prior to these two setbacks, the Blue Wahoos had been 43-2 when entering the eighth inning of games with a lead.
The decisive clout was unfortunately the fourth time in his past nine relief appearances that Woo-Suk Go has surrendered three or more runs. He joined the team on July 11 as part of a multi-player trade with the San Diego Padres.
Things started so differently Friday for the home club. The afternoon weather parted into a clear blue sky.
Blue Wahoos starter Jacob Miller, 21, making his home debut since being elevated from the High-A Beloit (Wisc.) Sky Carp, continued his impressive progression this season.
Miller, the Miami Marlins’ second-round pick in 2022 out of high school in Ohio, spun a five-inning shutout. He allowed just four hits and two walks while recording five strikeouts. He breezed through those five innings, wasting little time between pitches.
It was Miller’s third start since being elevated and followed his strong, scoreless five innings last week in his first Double-A win against the Mississippi Braves.
He was in line for another one after Jacob Berry hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning – his second in two games – to give the Blue Wahoos a 2-0 lead. Graham Pauley’s RBI double made it 3-0 in the sixth.
Reliever Chandler Jozwiak had a scoreless sixth inning against the Biscuits, but in the seventh, the Biscuits’ Willy Vasquez mashed a homer to lead off the inning. Jalen Battles singled, moved over on a bunt, then scored on Tanner Murray’s RBI single.
After Matt Pushard picked up his 11th hold with a scoreless eighth, Woo Suk-Go yielded three consecutive singles with one out. The last one tied the game. After striking out the next batter, he made the mistake pitch to Hernandez and it was the game-changer.
The Biscuits racked up 13 hits in the game. The Blue Wahoos had four players with a hit apiece.
Now, the Blue Wahoos will try and work toward a split of the series in Saturday’s fifth game of the homestand. Newcomer Robby Snelling (1-0, 0.90), a left-hander who has been stellar in his first two starts on the road, will be on the mound for the Blue Wahoos.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Montgomery Biscuits vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Saturday, 6:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
Berry’s Blast, Strong Pitching Lift Blue Wahoos To Win
August 16, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
Along with taking on their usual alternate identity Thursday as the Pensacola Mullets, the Blue Wahoos recreated what has always worked so well.
They got a strong start on the mound. Flawless relief pitching. And one big hit.
The summation became a 3-1 win against the Montgomery Biscuits on “Mullet Thursday” that was much needed, following the first two games of this homestand at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
“Yeah, we’re kinda in a race right here to make the playoffs, obviously that’s the goal, and we’re just trying to play our best brand of baseball,” said Jacob Berry, whose two-run homer in the fourth inning was the decisive hit in the game.
“Just top to bottom it was great baseball.”
Evan Fitterer set the early tone by tossing three scoreless innings with runners on base each time. His only run allowed was on a fourth inning ground out. He worked five innings to earn the win, improve to 6-4 and lower his earned run average to 3.60 for the season.
Fitterer had six strikeouts in his quality start.
The game was decided in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Graham Pauley reached on a single. Berry timed a one-strike cutter from Biscuits starter Sean Hunley that was low in the strike zone, but launched high into the right-center berm for his eighth home run.
It continued a hot bat that Berry has swung this week, after collecting five hits in seven plate appearances the first two games.
“I wasn’t really thinking about it too much, just trying to stick to my positives,” Berry said. “Just trying to put a good swing on it. I feel like I got a good pitch to hit.”
Later in the inning, Paul McIntosh drove in the third run on a grounder that scored Nathan Martorella, who singled and advanced to third on Joe Mack’s double.
From that point, the Blue Wahoos bullpen took over in a way that didn’t happen on previous nights.
Adam Laskey earned his seventh hold by shutting out Montgomery the next three innings, allowing just two hits and getting two strikeouts among the 12 batters he faced. The pivotal moment occurred in the sixth inning when Laskey entered the game.
The first two Biscuits batters reached on a hit by pitch and single. Laskey then got a lineout to shortstop Jared Serna, struck out the next batter and ended the inning on a ground out to first baseman Nathan Martorella.
That set things up for Justin King to get his first save in a Blue Wahoos uniform. King gave up a leadoff single in the ninth, but ended any drama by striking out the next two batters and having a fly out that Jacob Marsee tracked in left-center to end the game.
Catcher Joe Mack began clapping as he ran to congratulate King with a hug as the Blue Wahoos finished a game played in two hours, nine minutes.
They will now try to even the series on Friday, a Giveaway Friday where the first 1,000 fans will receive a refillable drink container. It will be the first home start for newcomer Jacob Miller, who has made two effective road starts since being promoted from High-A Beloit at the beginning of the month.
GAME NOTABLES
— The Blue Wahoos are now 8-2 on Thursdays wearing the Pensacola Mullets jerseys.
— Unfortunately for Jacob Serna, who had produced at least one hit in each of his 13 games since joining the Blue Wahoos, his streak ended Thursday with an 0-for-4 night.
— During pregame ceremonies, Clay Pyle, the “Jean Lafitte LXIX” of Pensacola’s Krewe of Lafitte, presented a $5,000 check on behalf of the Krew and the Krewe of Lafitte Foundation to the local chapter of the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Pensacola’s Krewe of Lafitte is celebrating its 70th anniversary since being founded in 1954.
The Krewe partnered with the Blue Wahoos for its “KOL Pirate Takeover of Blue Wahoos” on Thursday night and helped bring awareness and raise money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
— The All Sports Association, based in Fort Walton Beach, had its group outing Thursday night. The organization was formed in 1970 and is the sports association for the Fort Walton-Destin and Walton County area, headlined by its annual awards banquet in February.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Montgomery Biscuits vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Thursday, 6:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
Blue Wahoos’ Big Lead Erased In 12-8 Loss To Montgomery
August 15, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
A night after their most lopsided home loss this season, the Blue Wahoos experienced the most deflating.
After taking an 8-0 lead into the fourth inning, the big lead and feel-good dugout vibe Wednesday eventually dissolved into a ninth inning collapse and 12-8 loss against the Montgomery Biscuits at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
With the Blue Wahoos leading 8-5, newcomer reliever Nigel Belgrave had his home debut in the top of the ninth melt down without getting an out.
He gave a leadoff double, then plunked two batters with another base hit in between, had a walk, uncorked a wild pitch and was lifted with the Biscuits up 9-8.
Tyler Eckberg came in and was tagged for a two-run double. A deep flyout scored the other run. The half-inning lasted 26 minutes and required more than 60 pitches before the Biscuits’ onslaught stopped.
It put a glum ending to a game that began so well for the home team.
Pensacola took on its alternate identity, along with uniform change, as the Pensacola Pok-ta-Pok, in the final of a quartet of games this season as part of Minor League Baseball’s Copa de la Diversión initiative.
For the first time in 53 home games, this one began late, following a 41-minute rain delay
.
All that pent-up energy in seeking to erase Tuesday’s 18-5 loss began well for the Blue Wahoos. They jumped on Biscuits starter Trevor Martin for four runs in the first inning.
Jakob Marsee led off with a single, the stole second. Shortstop Jared Serna extended his hitting streak to 13 games with an RBI single. Jacob Berry singled. And with two out, Joe Mack blasted a moon shot over the stadium’s right field party deck area and out of sight somewhere behind the ballpark.
In the third inning, Nathan Martorella blasted a three-run homer to score Serna and Berry, who had both singled. For Serna, he’s had at least one hit in each of his 13 games since the former New York Yankees rising prospect joined the team in a trade.
Mack then followed a solo homer, giving him a team high 19 for the season.
Blue Wahoos starter Luis Palacios appeared in line for his 19th career win for the Blue Wahoos, which would have tied the franchise career record set by Daniel Wright set during his time in 2015-2018.
Even after Palacios gave up a two-run homer in the fourth inning, then back-to-back homers in the sixth, he still had a three-run lead.
Reliever Dale Stanavich then retired all seven batters he faced to get the Blue Wahoos to the ninth inning with a 3-run lead.
But Belgrave could not find the strike zone and wasn’t close with many of his pitches. He had made four relief appearances during the Blue Wahoos’ two-week road trip since joining the team from the Class-A Beloit Sky Carp. He had allowed just two runs and three hits during that span.
This time, however, Belgrave couldn’t get into a groove. He was a 15th round pick by the Miami Marlins and the first member of their 2023 Draft class to reach Double-A.
The Biscuits pounced on his mistakes, scoring seven runs total in the inning.
The Blue Wahoos will now try and get back into the homestand series on Thursday with Evan Fitterer on the mound against the Biscuits’ talented righthander Sean Hunley (4-2, 1.79 ERA).
GAME NOTABLES
— The Blue Wahoos grounds crew, led by Gordon van Weyhe, raced to combat a pop-up storm late Wednesday afternoon. Once the tarp was on, then eventually removed, it took just 45 minutes to get the field ready for a first pitch and kept the Blue Wahoos’ string of home games without a postponement intact. This season, there had not been a game delayed by pregame rain until Wednesday.
— The Blue Anchor Belles performed the National Anthem.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Montgomery Biscuits vs. Blue Wahoos
WHEN: Thursday, 6:05 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
Tate Aggies Volleyball Gears Up For Season With New Jerseys
August 14, 2024
The Tate Aggies volleyball team is ready to serve up a new look for the 2024 season. The squad recently unveiled fresh jerseys as they prepare to hit the court.
The Aggies will kick off their season on the road, facing off against the Milton Panthers on August 20 and the Gulf Breeze Dolphins on August 22. They will then return home to host the Pensacola Catholic Crusaders on August 27.
Pictured: New Tate volleyball white jerseys worn by the senior class and new Dig Pink jerseys modeled by junior Aggies. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Sustain Rough Return Home In Loss To Biscuits
August 14, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
This was not exactly the welcome back the Blue Wahoos sought.
Their successful road trip was replaced by a forgettable restart Tuesday, after the Montgomery Biscuits pounded out 10 runs in the first two innings, then rolled to an 18-5 victory to begin the first homestand in 16 days at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The Biscuits had all nine hitters at the plate in the first inning, scoring six runs on a pair of homers, then chased out starter Patrick Monteverde with four more runs, including another multi-run homer, before the second inning ended. The Biscuits led 14-0 into the seventh inning.
Montgomery blasted six home runs Tuesday. It was that kind of forgettable night in the Blue Wahoos’ worst home loss this season.
The Biscuits (62-47 overall, 22-18 in the second half), who edged out the Blue Wahoos (60-47, 22-17) for the first half divisional win, now have four of the Tampa Bay Rays’ top six prospects in their batting order.
All did early damage Tuesday.
Shortstop Carson Williams, the Rays’ No. 2 overall prospect, doubled home Montgomery’s first run, then walked and scored on catcher Dominic Keegan’s two-run double in the second inning. Keegan is the Rays’ No. 6 rated prospect. His hit scored Xavier Issac (No. 3 prospect) who reached on a single and finished with three hits, three RBI in the game.
Later that inning, Brayden Taylor (No. 4 rated), blasted a two-run homer off Monteverde. Taylor also scored in the first inning on Matthew Etzel’s homer.
It was the roughest outing Monteverde encountered in his three seasons with the Blue Wahoos. He was the Miami Marlins Minor League Pitcher of the Year last season and a Southern League All-Star.
In 1.2 innings Tuesday, he yielded 10 runs on eight hits, including three homers.
One bright spot for the Blue Wahoos was reliever Anderson Pilar, who followed Monteverde with 2.1 quality innings with four strikeouts, no walks and one hit.
Another home club highlight was Cody Morissette smashing a 3-run homer in the seventh inning over the centerfield wall. Newcomer Graham Pauley had a two-run homer in the eighth inning.
In his final at-bat, Jared Serna singled to extend his hitting streak to 12 games, getting at least one hit in each game since joining the Blue Wahoos in a trade.
The Blue Wahoos, who have struggled against the Biscuits this season to a 6-13 record, entered this week with good vibes. They went 8-3 on the two-week road trip against the Chattanooga Lookouts and Mississippi Braves to pull within two games of first place Biloxi in the second half division race.
It was their second 16-day break between home games this season. Tuesday was the first game since May 23 played on a school night after area schools began their 2024 fall semester on Monday.
The second game of the series will be Wednesday at 6:05 p.m. with the Blue Wahoos’ wins leader, lefthander Luis Palacios (8-5, 4.85 ERA), on the mound against the Biscuits’ Trevor Martin (1-2, 4.91.). Pregame activities will begin at 5:45 p.m. and include ceremonial first pitches. The actual first pitch in the game will be at 6:05 p.m.
GAME NOTABLES
— Prior to the game, the Blue Wahoos held a moment of silence for Gene Rosenbaum, a long-time season-ticket holder, who passed away on July 27. He was a regular attendee at Blue Wahoos Stadium and well-known among the fans seated in his section.
— The Blue Wahoos added infielder Johnny Olmstead, who was recently elevated from the Beloit Sky Carp, the Miami Marlins’ High-A affiliate. Olmstead, 24, was a 19th round selection by the Marlins out of the University of Southern California. He was batting .239 with 11 homers with the Sky Carp.
— The move corresponded to outfielder Andrew Pintar being placed on the injured list after he was hit in the face by a pitch in Sunday’s game against Mississippi. He was one of four new players joining the Blue Wahoos when the Marlins received 15 new players in their organization from various trades on the July 30 MLB trade deadline.
Blue Wahoos Toppled In Road Finale By Pair Of Big Innings
August 12, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (60-46) fell Sunday in the finale of their two-week road trip by a score of 10-1 against the Mississippi Braves (49-58).
With a series win already in hand, the Wahoos turned to veteran righthander Jeff Lindgren (L, 1-4) to close out a fifth win in six days. At first, both Lindgren and his mound opponent David Fletcher (W, 2-4) matched one another pitch for pitch. The game remained scoreless through the first three innings before the Wahoos dented the scoreboard first.
In the top of the fourth inning, Pensacola shortstop Jared Serna doubled to right field. The extra-base hit extended Serna’s Double-A hitting streak to 11 games. After a lineout moved Serna to third, first baseman Nathan Martorella’s groundout drove in Serna to give Pensacola a 1-0 lead.
However, the advantage proved to be short-lived. The M-Braves responded with a five-run barrage in the bottom of the fifth inning, which put them ahead for good. Working against Lindgren, Mississippi loaded the bases with one out for designated hitter David McCabe, who singled to score two runs and give the Braves a 2-1 lead. Second baseman Yolbert Sanchez then brought home another run with a sacrifice fly before first baseman Bryson Horne doubled off of Wahoos lefthander Chandler Jozwiak to drive home two additional runs and put the Braves ahead 5-1.
The five-run outburst proved to be more than enough for Mississippi, who put up a second five-run inning in the bottom of the seventh to go ahead 10-1. The game marked the first time the Wahoos had given up double-digit runs since June 5 – also against Mississippi. Despite the defeat, Pensacola returns home having won eight of 11 games during its two-week road trip.
The Wahoos saw several recent additions perform well during the two-week road trip. Shortstop Jared Serna hit .444 with 10 doubles in his first 11 Double-A games, while lefthander Robby Snelling impressed through his first two Pensacola starts (combined 10.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 14 K).
The Blue Wahoos return home on Tuesday to begin a series versus the Montgomery Biscuits. First pitch from Blue Wahoos Stadium is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CT